Abstract
Reviewed by: This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron Kate Quealy-Gainer, Assistant Editor Bayron, Kalynn This Poison Heart. Bloomsbury, 2021 [384 p] Trade ed. ISBN 9781547603909 $18.99 E-book ed. ISBN 9781547603916 $13.29 Reviewed from digital galleys R Gr. 7-10 Life in Brooklyn is becoming untenable for teenaged Briseis, who struggles to control her abilities to affect the plants around her and who has recently nearly pulled a tree up by its roots outside a café. It's lucky, then, that an aunt she never knew has left her an isolated estate in upstate New York, complete with acres of lush greenery for Bri, accompanied by her moms, to hone her gift in private. The manor itself is rundown but holds a wealth of family history—which, as an adoptee, Bri has never known existed—and letters from her enigmatic aunt lead her to a garden filled with poisonous plants and a sacred family duty. Bayron strikes just the right balance of mystical and modern, bringing elements of mythology and spirituality to Bri's family roots while situating her securely in a relatable adolescence, arguing with her moms, worrying about new relationships, and wondering what life will be like now as one of the few Black people in a small town. The book gets a bit heavy-handed at points with overt explanations of events that readers could likely be trusted to find on their own, but the final pages are a rush of action that promises a sequel. Copyright © 2021 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
